Meishan Su family, Su Yun is the most virtuous

Chapter 152 Undercurrent is surging!

While people outside were either praising or criticizing the "Collected Commentaries on the Mencius", Su Yun was concentrating on preparing for the exam.

Zhang Dun and Su Zhe took turns to help Su Yun improve his poetry, prose and policy. Su Yun had spent too much time studying the Spring and Autumn Annals and Mencius before, and he was not a virgin, so there were many things he needed to improve.

Su Che and Zhang Dun each held a poem and a strategy, and then they frowned and remained silent.

Su Yun felt a little embarrassed and waited quietly for the two to sentence him to death.

Su Che spoke first, saying, "Examination poems are indeed different from ordinary poems, but your level is indeed... well, not a drag."

Zhang Dun took a glance at it and had to say that it was actually quite well written. There were no problems with the format, rhythm, parallelism, etc. However, perhaps because he had been whetted by Su Yun's amazing poems, this one was a bit off-putting to his eyes.

Su Yun breathed a sigh of relief. He knew his own level. He could probably just write doggerel with the regular format and rhythm. As for writing poems that would be passed down from generation to generation, that was really not possible.

But as long as I can get by with it, it's okay.

From what Su Che said, this poem is probably still okay and should not be a drag.

Zhang Dun, on the other hand, spoke highly of Su Yun's strategy and said, "This strategy is of good quality. You can take a look at it."

Su Che took it and took a look, his eyes lit up. Apart from some problems with the format, the words and allusions were quite accurate, and the language was quite beautiful. A careful reading revealed the beauty of the language in the Book of Han, probably because it was copied from the Book of Han several times. The key point was that it was meaningful and had a lofty purpose.

Su Che looked at Zhang Dun and said, "Shall I change it?"

Zhang Dun smiled and said, "You change it."

Su Che took the lead and picked up the brush to sketch. In just a few moments, there were dozens of places on the paper that needed to be modified.

Su Yun took a look and was suddenly speechless.

The essays of the Song Dynasty were similar to the compositions of later generations, requiring no less than 700 words. Su Yun's essay was about 800 words long, and Su Che outlined thirty or forty places that needed to be revised.

Is there any need to change it?
But in fact, there is a need for change.

Su Che took the policy papers and explained them to Su Yun one by one.

In fact, they are all format problems. The problem is that Su Yun has received too little training in this area.

Since he really started studying, he first focused on studying the Five Classics, then selected the Spring and Autumn Annals, and worked hard on it. After that, he decided to study Mencius, which took him half a year.

It can be said that he devoted all his energy to the interpretation of classics and put no effort at all into poetry, prose and policy making.

He did participate in the monthly and quarterly examinations of the Imperial College, but Zhang Dun did not care about it, and neither did he himself. He just had a general experience of what the examinations in the Song Dynasty were like, and did not go into other details.

At this moment, neither Su Zhe nor Zhang Dun blamed Su Yun, as they both knew about Su Yun's academic performance.

A person who has never received a proper education, but has only studied the classics a little, was able to write a book called "Collected Commentaries on the Mencius".

What’s wrong if I can’t write good poems or essays? What’s wrong if I can’t do well in the exam?
Well, even if I don’t do well in the imperial examination this time, it’s actually no big deal.

Compared with a book of "Collected Commentaries on Mencius", an imperial examination is nothing.

As for the emperor's statement that even if Su Yun did not perform well in the exam, hey, that is absolutely impossible. If the emperor dares to give such a random order, you will be finished whether we scold you or not.

Such a genius would naturally have to pass the imperial examination. Are you trying to ruin his future by giving him an official position?
In fact, Su Che and Zhang Dun both advised Su Yun to take the exam again next time. The time was too tight this time, and it would be difficult to pass even if he forced himself to take the exam. Even if he could fool around with the Jie test, the Ministry of Rites test would not be so easy to fool.

Even if you pass the palace examination, you will not be disqualified, but if you get a bad ranking, it will also affect your future career.

In the opinion of Su Che and Zhang Dun, it would be better for Su Yun to get a first-class Jinshi and not even consider the second-class. In this way, he would be in the top three and would naturally start faster than others.

There were differences in the promotion of officials in the Song Dynasty. Those who suffered the most were those without a good background, that is, those who were not officials from the formal imperial examination system.

It is the most difficult for them to get promoted. If no one promotes them, and they only rely on normal seniority to get promoted, they may remain a middle or lower-level official all their lives until they die.

But if one has a good background and is a genuine Jinshi, then one will rise much faster than one without a good background.

But if one is born as the top scholar and becomes a doctor of Taichang, and is directly transferred to the position of Taizhi by special decree, then the speed of promotion will be like riding a rocket.

In the view of Zhang Dun and Su Zhe, given Su Yun's talent and contribution to the "Collected Commentaries on Mencius", it would be a waste if he did not take the imperial examination and become the top scholar.

However, Su Yun refused the suggestion to give up the exam.

Su Yun didn’t think too much about it. He didn’t want to spend too much time on the imperial examination. He wanted to annotate the Four Books as soon as possible.

With the collected annotations on the Four Books, Su Yun will become the most outstanding scholar of classics in the Song Dynasty, no need to add any more.

You can even try to use the Four Books Annotations as the imperial examination question bank in advance. This is much more meaningful than taking the exam to become the top scholar.

Of course, Su Yun doesn’t want to be the top scholar because he doesn’t want to?
Hey.

For Su Yun, he only needs to spend time and effort to write the Annotations to the Four Books, and he will be able to do it, but as for taking the imperial examination...all I can say is, hehe.

Others think Su Yun is talented and a genius, but Su Yun knows what he is like.

It's nothing more than that he has thousands of years more accumulation and experience than others, and his brain is relatively better used, and the rest... well, he has higher martial arts skills, better looks, a lot of money, and a giant python around his waist... but these cannot guarantee that he can pass the exam and become the top scholar.

The top scholar is too cost-effective for Su Yun, so it’s better not to have him.

Ah, yes, that’s right, the cost-effectiveness is too low, so Su Yun doesn’t want to be the top scholar.

Therefore, as long as you can fool around and get a Jinshi degree, you will be very lucky.

While Su Yun was cramming his knowledge for the imperial examination, someone from the palace came to inform him to attend a small imperial lecture in the palace on July 20th.

After knowing the news, Su Che and Zhang Dun were extremely happy. They asked Su Yun to stop tutoring. The two of them took turns to explain to Su Yun the things to pay attention to in the imperial lectures, and even held several lectures in the style of imperial lectures.

As for the imperial examination, it’s not that important. I can just take it next time.

After all, the fact that "Collected Annotations of the Mencius" could be included in the Small Classics Lecture represented the government's recognition of it. After being included in the Small Classics Lecture, "Collected Annotations of the Mencius" became a semi-famous school of thought, and Su Yun's identity as a master of classics also had an official note.

This is serious business.

Although Su Che and Zhang Dun had never lectured on the classics, they had either attended the lectures or had compiled materials on them, so they were familiar with them and could guide Su Yun.

While Su Yun was receiving instruction, news of the small lecture spread. July 14th.

After the morning court session, Vice-chancellor Zhang Xu went to Chongzheng Hall to ask to see Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu invited Zhang Xu in. As soon as he stood, Zhang Xu asked, "Your Majesty, I heard that you want to invite a commoner to come to the imperial lecture to give you a lecture?"

The system of imperial lectures appeared in the Western Han Dynasty, but it did not become an institutional system. It was not until the time of the studious Emperor Zhenzong of Song that the system was truly formed.

Zhenzong was the emperor who wrote the poem to encourage learning. This poem to encourage learning aroused the enthusiasm of the people of the Song Dynasty to study and take the imperial examinations.

In order to encourage students to study well, Zhenzong also set up special selection criteria and title treatment for tutors, who all enjoyed the same treatment as Hanlin academicians.

It was from this time that the imperial lecture system gradually became an institution and was passed down.

When it came to Emperor Renzong, because he ascended the throne at the age of thirteen, how to educate the young emperor became a matter of great concern to the powerful Empress Dowager Zhangxian Liu and all the literati in the court.

In the year when Emperor Renzong ascended the throne, Empress Dowager Liu issued an edict: "When the emperor is not hearing judgments, he should summon famous scholars to lecture on the classics to assist in the study of the sacred teachings."

So, from that year on, Hanlin Attending Academician Sun Shi and Longtu Pavilion Academician Feng Yuan began to explain "The Analects of Confucius" to Renzong, and Li Wei and Yan Shu accompanied him in reading every day.

This is how the small imperial lecture system was established.

Now that the system has been established, there are rules and regulations on who can preach the scriptures. Although the conditions have been relaxed again and again, no commoner has ever been able to attend the imperial lecture. This is why Zhang Xu dared to question Zhao Xu in person.

(Even when Emperor Zhezong first came to power, Cheng Yi went to Chongzheng Hall to tell stories. Although he was called a commoner at the time, he actually held an official rank.)
Because Zhao Xu was wrong in this matter.

Zhao Xu nodded and said, "I have been bedridden for some time, and I haven't held a lecture for quite some time. Now that I am feeling better, I can't stop reading for too long, so I want to hold a small lecture to read."

Zhang Xu said, "It is understandable that Your Majesty wants to read, but there are 14 ministers in the court who are supposed to attend the imperial lectures, and only 10 of them are tutors. The officials can just invite whoever they want to come and give the lecture. Why break the rules and invite a commoner to give the lecture? The court has never had such a rule. Please think twice."

Zhao Xu looked up at Zhang Xu and said, "Minister Zhang, I invited Su Yun for a reason. A few days ago, I heard that there was a fight in the Imperial College. After investigating, I found that it was caused by a book called Mencius Annotations. That's why I wanted to listen to the annotated version. Haha, Mr. Zhang, I heard that your son was also involved?"

Zhang Xu's expression changed slightly when he heard this, and he quickly said, "I didn't know that the rebellious son was not interested in studying at the Imperial College, but actually dared to join in the fight. When I go home, I will serve him as my father."

Zhao Xu nodded and said, "It's time to educate him. I won't pursue this matter any further."

Zhang Xu cupped his hands and said, "But this matter..."

Zhao Xu looked at Zhang Xu and said, "Although this is not in accordance with the rules, there are virtuous people in the wild, and I am seeking them out. This is also a great thing, and it can also encourage scholars all over the world. There is nothing wrong with this."

Having said that, Zhang Xu naturally had nothing to say and had no choice but to leave.

Zhao Xu snorted softly when he saw Zhang Xu retreating. Zhang Xu's move had already made him somewhat dissatisfied.

He naturally knew why Zhang Xu reacted so strongly to this matter. It was certainly not a violation of the rules.

Otherwise, he should not have given in for his son's sake, but should have argued with reason, even if his son was punished rather than letting his son get punished.

The reason why Zhang Xu came personally to dissuade him was because of the conflict between Zhang Xu and Su Shi.

Zhang Xu was a fellow Jinshi as Su Shi. After entering officialdom, the two worked together in Fengxiang for two years and became close friends.

When Zhang Xu returned to Bian Jing, Su Dongpo wrote an article "On Farming" as a gift to him.

However, when the Wudai Poems Case broke out, Zhang Xu, as the head of the Censorate, participated in the investigation and actually intended to have Su Dongpo killed.

Wang Anshi's younger brother Wang Anli once advised Emperor Shenzong to forgive Dongpo, but Zhang Xu was furious and scolded Wang Anli to his face. His sinister intention of wanting Dongpo to be spared from death was obvious.

If Su Yun entered the Small Classics Lecture Hall at this moment, he would be recognized as a master of classics, and the Meishan Su family's revival would be on the rise again.

What made Zhang Xu and others very uneasy was that not only Su Yun came back, but Su Zhe also came back. So, would Su Shi also come back next? And Sima Guang, Wen Yanbo and others, would they also come back?
This is an extremely serious political tendency!

but……

Zhao Xu smiled gently.

This was also intentional on his part.

Pushing Su Yun to become Zhao Yong's teacher and finding a capable mentor for Zhao Yong was only one of the reasons. Another reason was that Wang Gui and others had become increasingly slack in the reform recently, and he was using this as a warning.

There is still some resistance to the reform.

Firstly, a lot of departments and idle officials will be eliminated, which most officials are very opposed to.

Secondly, for prime ministers such as Wang Gui, they had many duties in the Council of State and had great power, and even the emperor could not easily interfere.

But if we return to the system of three provinces and six ministries, then the three provinces will argue with each other, and who will have the final say?

Who else could it be? The emperor.

Therefore, for the prime ministers, this reform was aimed at weakening their power. As a result, their motivation was naturally not that strong, and without motivation, they became somewhat slack.

Originally, Zhao Xu wanted to change slowly, but his health has taken a turn for the worse recently, and he became anxious.

Since even he couldn't do it well, I'm afraid no one among the future generations will be able to carry it forward.

Therefore, use the old party to stimulate Wang Gui, Zhang Xu and others, and let them know that it is true that they want to reform, but if they anger me, I will simply let the old party come back. Reform is not a new law, and you are not the only one who is indispensable!
Zhao Xu felt a little tired, so he called Sun Sigong and said, "Find out what the other people's attitudes are."

Sun Sigong quickly took the order and left.

Zhang Xu returned to the Council Hall angrily. Wang Gui was handling government affairs in the hall. When he saw Zhang Xu coming back, he nodded as a greeting.

Zhang Xu asked, "Prince Wang, would you like to chat?"

Wang Gui stood up and walked towards the back hall, which was more secluded and there was no need to worry about anyone hearing him, especially to avoid Zhang Dun and Cai Que.

They all belonged to the New Law school, but it was normal for there to be factions within factions. Wang Gui was closer to Zhang Xu and others, while Zhang Dun and Cai Que were closer.

Moreover, Zhang Dun has recently become closer and closer to the old school, which has attracted the attention of Wang Gui and Zhang Xu.

(End of this chapter)